Police say homeless man may be linked to two convenience store thefts

Montville - State police detectives are investigating whether the man charged with snatching cash from a register at a North Stonington convenience store late Monday is the same one who tried to rob a Montville store earlier in the evening.

Jayson Tuggle, 33, was arrested Monday night in Groton following reports of a man who stole cash from the register at the Xtramart on Norwich-Westerly Road in North Stonington. With the assistance of Groton Town Police, state police said, they found Tuggle in Groton, where he initially tried to hide himself while armed with a knife at a friend’s residence.

Tuggle was charged with sixth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and breach of peace in connection with the 10:16 p.m. theft in North Stonington.

The arrest came even as detectives with the state police major crime squad where investigating an attempted robbery that occurred at 7:06 p.m. Monday at the Henny Penny gas station on Route 32 in Montville.

In the Montville incident, police said a white male in his early 30s entered the store and tried to grab cash from the register. During the incident, police said, one of the store clerks tried to detain the suspect and was involved in a brief struggle.

The suspect left the store and tried unsuccessfully to enter two nearby vehicles, including a truck parked at a gas pump. The keys were not in the truck and the suspect fled on foot. There were no reported injuries.

Tuggle, who police said is homeless, was held overnight at Troop E in Montville and was expected to appear today in New London Superior Court.

Tuggle was already due to appear in court to answer to a felony narcotics possession charge stemming from a March 5 arrest in Stonington, records show.